Each year, the American Lung Association issues a "report card" on tobacco control policies for each state. They evaluate each state in 4 areas: tobacco prevention, smokefree air, tobacco taxes and access to cessation services.
New Jersey earned an "A" in smokefree air. Although...

In December, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids issued their annual report Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-By-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 16 Years Later. The report provides a "ranking" for each state based on the state's funding for tobacco programs. New Jersey...

One day while he was walking through the park, Neha Aggarwal’s maternal grandfather suddenly fell to the ground—he had unexpectedly suffered a stroke. Before the stroke, her grandfather had been very active mentally, physically, socially, and professionally. Although the stroke dramatically...

Earlier this year, the New Jersey Department of Health released a report on the findings of the 2012 Youth Tobacco Survey. They survey, which is conducted every other year, produced encouraging results. It showed that youth smoking rates have decreased significantly and only 9.3% of high school students...

Dr. Charles Garbarino is a pediatrician, known to his patients as "Dr. Charlie." He has authored two books, "Pediatrician Soldier" and "One Heart-Embrace Life." Colonel Garbarino continues to serve his country as a member of the military and has deployed for three combat...

In some communities in New Jersey, it is easier to find grape soda than an actual grape! In areas that lack easy access to grocery stores, people go to corner stores and other small retailers to buy the items they need to feed their families. Unfortunately, many small business owner face challenges in...

Students throughout the Garden State are heading back to school this month. Those who are starting high school will be learning an important lesson before graduation-how to perform CPR during an emergency!
On August 20, Lt. Governor Kimberly Guadagno signed a bill that will ensure that students entering...

With the start of the school year just weeks away for most students here in New Jersey, you may be curious about the status of the CPR in Schools bill that the Legislature passed in June, so here is a quick update. The bill has not been signed yet, but we have been in contact with the Governor's...

JoAnne and David Babbitt founded the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation in 2007 in memory of their son John who died of sudden cardiac arrest in 2006 while playing basketball. He was 16. Since its inception, the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation has donated numerous Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)...

On June 23, 2014, the NJ General Assembly voted on A2072, a bill requiring public high schools to teach CPR with a hands-on training component as part of the health curriculum. The bill passed 77-0! Later that afternoon, the Senate took a vote on the same legislation. They also passed the bill with an...

For months, You're the Cure advocates from throughout New Jersey have been contacting their elected officials to voice their support for providing high school students with hands-on CPR training as part of the health curriculum. Our efforts are starting to pay off!
On May 15, the Assembly Education...

Bobby McKeeby was at home in Newton, NJ last summer when a frantic woman appeared at his door. Her husband had lost consciousness in the passenger seat while she was driving. He was not breathing and needed help. After calling 911, Bobby went with the woman to her husband. Bobby had no medical training...

Advocates in New Jersey are still hard at work advocating for CPR training in the Garden State's high schools.
Recently, several high school students joined representatives from the American Heart Association and the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation for a meeting with Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan...

Bob Goodman was the picture of good health. His father died of a heart attack at the age of 57, when Bob was still a child. He knew that if he wanted to live a long, healthy life, it would be necessary to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Bob’s daily routine included plenty of physical activity, including...

Joan Helfman has been a cardiovascular nurse for nearly 40 years. Twenty years ago, she became an active member of the Northern New Jersey Regional Board for the American Heart Association and is a dedicated You’re the Cure advocate.
Joan has attended numerous lobby day events over the years...

In the March 28, 2014 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control released "State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco Cessation Treatments and Barriers to Coverage-United States, 2008-2014." The American Lung Association was the lead author on this report. It outlines...

On January 3, 2011, Sherri had a heart attack at age 41. She initially thought she was run down from the holidays and also had been battling a bad cold. She had started experiencing symptoms like extreme fatigue, overall weakness, nausea, a burning indigestion sensation, and a tingling in her arm. She...

Twelve states throughout the country have passed laws requiring that high schools students receive CPR training before graduating high school. While the training need not be a "certification" course, it should provide students with an opportunity to practice compressions on a manikin or other...

As a retired intensive care nurse, Rosalie Mayes was aware of the attention given to heart disease in men. She considers herself fortunate because her heart disease was discovered during a routine physical examination, allowing her to take action and manage her condition.
Rosalie is an American Heart...

Legislation that would require coaches of school athletic teams to learn CPR and schools to provide information about sudden cardiac arrest to student athletes and their parents was signed by Governor Christie in the final hours of his first term in office.
We thank Governor Christie for his support...

Max Helfman got involved with the American Heart Association as a youth advocate at the age of 10, after losing his grandfather to heart disease and his soccer coach to sudden cardiac arrest. Now a high school senior, Max has attended "You’re the Cure on the Hill" lobby day several times...

Wow! Where did 2013 go? As we celebrate all we did this year, I find myself once again thinking about New Year resolutions. The perennial favorites are there….eat better, get more exercise, save more money…but these goals are all centered on making my life better. What if for 2014 we all...

I am truly lucky. I get to work on policies that will make our communities healthier every, single day. But the greatest part of my job is that I get to do that work with the best volunteers in the world. As the holidays are upon us, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. And to let you know how...

On December 19, the NJ Assembly passed the "Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act" by a margin of 79-0! There was not one, single dissenting vote. This bill makes sure that parents, coaches and student athletes get information about sudden cardiac arrest prior to participating in school sports...

Great news! In late November, a bill that would require public high school students to learn CPR at school prior to graduation was introduced in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature. The American Heart Association would like to thank Senators Diane Allen and Joseph Vitale for sponsoring S3048 and...